Fitness On Social Media: How To Stop Comparing Yourself With Others?

2020 took fitness on social media. With virtual connections came the trappings of comparison. So how do you combat this? We have a few recommendations

As we stayed cooped up indoors, we found connections in the virtual world. From virtual work parties to drinking on Saturday nights over Zoom calls, 2020 revolutionised the way we functioned socially. As people found connections in the virtual world, social media emerged as an instrument for social change rather than just being a medium for personal updates.

As so many of us gravitated toward the connections made in the virtual world, we also realised that this came with a dark side — social media was only a highlight reel of our lives and the hard work which was done to achieve success always remained hidden. Even after knowing this fact, it was easy to assume that everyone else was having the time of their lives while you were struggling with weight gain, anxiety, self-doubt, loss of a job or any other tension that you might have had during lockdown.

It is easy to fall down this rabbit hole of self-comparison. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia surveyed how people use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and the impact it had on their well-being. They found that the more people compared themselves to others the less happy they felt, and social media did encourage more comparisons.

Have you been seeing running updates on social media thinking everyone seems to be doing well while you can’t get yourself to click even 1 Gram worthy picture? Chances are you’re not alone and this is a common feeling that many people in the fitness and running community are going through.

So how do you combat this? We have a few recommendations that have proven useful. Read on to find out what they are.

Focus on positive self-talk

Instead of telling yourself that you can’t do something that somebody on social media is doing, assure yourself that you are trying your best and you are open to learning, and tell yourself that you will get there soon enough. Be kind to yourself just the way you would be kind to a friend or loved one. Focus on encouraging yourself by making use of positive words.

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Turn up the compassion

For yourself! You know that what gets posted on social media is not the complete picture. Allow yourself to accept this fact and also show compassion towards those who you are comparing yourself to. Not everybody is comfortable sharing their life on Instagram and there are things that might not be working for them either. That does not mean that you have to feel bad about what is going on with you.

Unfollow or mute accounts that make you anxious

If you feel that some accounts are triggering you by their captions or their photos, please make use of the mute, unfollow or block button. It is important to protect your energy and social media is also exchange of energy! You need to take steps to limit your exposure towards triggers.

Recognise the reason why you are sharing updates

Are you running to post a sweaty selfie at the end of the workout? There’s no shame in posting a photo of yourself after a run, but do think about why you’re taking time out of your training (and what kind of filters are you using to share the update). Please understand that the reason you exercise is because it gives you satisfaction and not because it gets you more likes on Instagram. If you feel you have started working out for the Gram, keep your phone aside and focus on your workouts.

Prioritise your fitness

Being mindful can help you. As you get out for your workout focus on how it is making you feel rather than how people are looking at you. What can you hear? Are you able to smell anything? Are you breathing well? How do your feet feel against the ground? Focus on movement rather than how it looks like on social media.